The signs
It’s human nature to be curious about future and whatever is going to happen. This the reason why fortune telling is flourishing. These fortune tellers are either divine and their sayings are based on revelation (heavenly), or devilish and earthly.
Meanwhile, the promise of coming a savior is mentioned in all religions and cults, but coming of this savior also has signs for not losing the way, there are many narrations concerning this subject which indicates the importance of it and its positive and negative effects in personal and social life…
But the important point is to check the documentation and interpretation of these narrations and Hadiths which needs special attention.
Why the signs?
When autumn comes, leaves turn yellow and slowly fall. It’s a sign of the beginning of autumn, yet not autumn itself; but rather the messenger of the beginning of this season and it has no role in occurrence of autumn.
The yellowness of the face is the sign of disease, but the reason of disease is not “the color of the face”.
The signs of the Reappearance are also messengers of the Reappearance and have no role in occurring this divine order and are merely guidance signs and path indicators.
In other words, the signs play no role in hastening the Reappearance; but are rather the sign of approaching the Reappearance. In order for the Reappearance to occur, we should make the preparations for the Reappearance and not be looking for the occurrence of the signs.
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Functions of the signs of the Reappearance
The sings of the Reappearance have two important functions. First: when people are neglectful and over with the issue of the Reappearance. Second: when people are doubtful and confused and incredulous, the sings of the Reappearance help them to find the right path and be guided.
For example Prophet called Ammar the sign of the course of Truth and said: “Be aware that the group who kills Ammar, is the course of Falsehood” and explained to Muslems whenever they were not able to recognize the course of Truth and Falsehood in tribulations, they can distinct right and wrong by this sign.
Therefore we should not wait for Sufiani, Yamani and other signs to appear and then start working for the Reappearance. The duty of awaiting person is taking action and not just waiting for signs to appear.
The signs will appear on their times. Our duty is preparing the conditions of the Reappearances.
Let’s not forget the principles…
As it was explained, the Reappearance signs are not the cause of it and they’re just guides for being in the right path. If we give up on the principles of the Reappearance which are preparing the way and referring to the words and Seerah of Ahl al-Bayt, we will be misguided and this could happen by wrong analysis and interpretation of the signs of the Reappearance.
It is denoted in a narration: “After the Call coming from the Heavens, (which is a miracle and very amazing event) the Satan will call out a simulated call and will put many people in doubts…” And interestingly it is noted in narrations that: “Those will be saved facing this sign who used to narrate our Hadiths and have accepted Ahl al-Bayt as criterion and principle.”
( Al-Ghayba al-Nu’mani, ch. 14, hadith 48)
The signs of the Reappearance are categorized into certain and uncertain, which has its own function that its effect is being encouraging and acquaintance of the Imam. If all the signs of the Reappearance were certain, they would lose their function as being encouraging and also lose their importance, and this view would be created in the awaiting people that the Reappearance will not occur until the occurrence of all these signs and this would create frustration in their hearts.
Also, if all the signs were uncertain, none of them could have happened and people would have deviated and doubted in tribulations and even they would not recognize Imam Mahdi (PBUH) and the main path of the Reappearance.
Therefore, the signs are divided into two groups of certain and uncertain which shows the wisdom of Allah and the policy of Ahl al-Bayt that each of these signs is subjected to conditions. As Imam Baqir (PBUH) said: “Some signs are conditional and some are certain and unchangeable, and Sufyani is of certain signs that will occur undoubtedly.” (Al-Ghayba al-Nu'mani, Ch. 18, Hadith 6)
Sudden Reappearance
According to some narrations, “the Reappearance of Imam Mahdi (PBUH) will occur suddenly and at unexpected time” and “his affair will be reformed in one night.”
Review:
These narrations are metaphors for the rate of occurrence of the Reappearance; so “the occurrence of the Reappearance when it’s not expected” doesn’t deny the Reappearance signs! It is also possible that the certain signs which are adjoint to the Reappearance, happen swiftly and at unexpected time, and the Reappearance occurs immediately after that.
[One who knows that his beloved will come back from journey, let’s say in a year, his enthusiasm and waiting start from now and this readiness is seen in every moment of his life.]
False Yamani pretenders!
1-Abd al-Rahman ibn Ash’ath
2-Yazid ibn Mulahhab
3-Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad
4-Abd Rahim ibn Abd al-Rahman
5-Ahmad Hassan Yamani: Born in 1973, of descendant of the tribe of Siamer, he is not Sayyed but he wore black turban (only Sayyeds wear black turban )! And he claimed to be a humble, naive and rural man, but after a while he claimed to be “Imam Mahdi's representative” and then to be “Imam Mahdi” himself.
6- Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Huthi: The member of the Yemeni parliament between 1993 and 1997, he was killed about the year 2004 near Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia.
(For further information refer to the book of “Taamoli dar neshanehaye zohur (Reflection on the Reappearance Sings)”, Ayati, p. 50-63.)
The name of Yamani
1- Yamani: Most of the narrations from Imams describe the name “Yamani”. Regarding the question that: “When will Imam Mahdi (PBUH) reappear?” , Imam Baqir (PBUH) replied: “When the men get similar to the women …and Sufyani rises in Levant (Syria) and Yamani rises in Yamen…”
2- Mansour al-Yamani: “Imam Baqir (PBUH) said: “…. Then Mansour al-Yamani with his army will move from San’a towards them”” (so the name “Mansour” has also been used. )
3- The Caliph Yamani: “It has been narrated from Ertat that: “At the time of Yamani leader (Caliph Yamani) who will conquer Rome and Istanbul, the antichrist will appear…””
4- Qahtani: “Apparently one of the different tribal families in Yemen is Qahtan.”
(Thinking about the Reappearance signs, page 70-79)
Simultaneous happening of Yamani and Sufyani rises
Imam Sadiq (PBUH) said: “Sufyani’s appearance and Yemani’s appearance with white flags from Yemen will be on the same day and the same month and the same year.” [Al-Ghayba, Tusi, p446]
It is possible that this is “an implication to intensity the adherence of these two incidents” and this has no contradiction to existence of a little distance between them. For example:
Imam Sadiq (PBUH) has said: “Yamani and Sufyani will be after each other as two race horses.” [Al-Ghayba al-Nu’mani, Chapter,18, Hadith15]
Source: Mahdiaran Channel (@Mahdiaran); http://islampfr.com